MSFT MVP ONLY PLEASE

[Sarah C]

Interested in alternate MSFT board and/or searchable database other than MSFT
Knowledgebase where I might try question unable to get adequate answer to
here.... invloving clicking on item within My Documents on an XP SP3 system
with Active Desktop where all of a sudden the documents do not open
corresponding program such as Word or Acrobat...... yet if going into those
programs first and browsing for file, they open perfectly.

Thank you,
Sarah

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Interested in alternate MSFT board and/or searchable database other
than MSFT Knowledgebase where I might try question unable to get
adequate answer to here.... invloving clicking on item within My
Documents on an XP SP3 system with Active Desktop where all of a
sudden the documents do not open corresponding program such as Word
or Acrobat...... yet if going into those programs first and
browsing for file, they open perfectly.

Sounds like your file associations have been broken.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307859/

Some basic File Association fixes:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Could be other things - or the root cause of it could be the real problem...

Have you scanned your system with a current antivirus application?

Have you scanned your system with a few antispyware applications?
(MalwareBytes, SuperAntiSpyware, Spybot Search and Destroy come to mind.)

Why do you feel you need to mention you have Active Desktop enabled? Does
the problem only occur with files on the desktop?

 

[John Inzer]

Interested in alternate MSFT board and/or searchable database other
than MSFT Knowledgebase where I might try question unable to get
adequate answer to here.... invloving clicking on item within My
Documents on an XP SP3 system with Active Desktop where all of a
sudden the documents do not open corresponding program such as Word
or Acrobat...... yet if going into those programs first and browsing
for file, they open perfectly.

Thank you,
Sarah

==================================
I have no idea what you have tried but the
articles below may be useful or you could
try the Microsoft Answers forum:

Microsoft Answers - Windows Vista
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx:

===

An utility to unassociate file types in Windows Vista
http://tinyurl.com/2ssrlj
or...
http://www.winhelponline.com/articl...-unassociate-file-types-in-Windows-Vista.html

How to Set Default Associations
For a Program in Vista
http://tinyurl.com/2abtmr
or...
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/83196-default-programs-program-default-associations.html

Windows Vista -
How to Associate a File Extension
Type With a Program in Vista
http://tinyurl.com/6janr9
or...
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Right-click on a DOC file in My Documents folder | Open with | select Word &
check the "Always open with..." box.

Now right-click on a PDF file in My Documents folder | Open with | select
your default PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Acrobat v9.1.1) & check the "Always
open with..." box.

If this behavior only started after you installed SP3...

The free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 has
been extended (but certainly not indefinitely) beyond the original 14 April
2009 cut-off date. Open your browser to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

If this behavior started after installing Office 2007 SP2...

Known issues that you may experience when you install Office 2007 SP2...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968173

 

[Sarah C]

Thanks for this information. Will attempt shortly. You mention something in
your answer though that reminded me of an important related fact.

This particular machine had no Office 2003(yes, 2003) service packs on it.
Attempted run of Office 2003 SP3 which have done numerous times before.
Service pack hung an inordinate amount of time and I eventually cancelled,
watching it supposedly roll back.

Anything that might be related here ?..... considering you mention known
issues with Office 2007 service pack installs.

Thank you again. Look forward toyour follow up.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thanks for this information. Will attempt shortly. You mention
something in your answer though that reminded me of an important
related fact.

This particular machine had no Office 2003(yes, 2003) service packs
on it. Attempted run of Office 2003 SP3 which have done numerous
times before. Service pack hung an inordinate amount of time and I
eventually cancelled, watching it supposedly roll back.

Anything that might be related here ?..... considering you mention
known issues with Office 2007 service pack installs.

Thank you again. Look forward toyour follow up.

Doesn't sound related (beyond a possible malware infestation.)

Did you have your Office 2003 (yes, 2003) installation media in the computer
when you attempted the installation of said service pack for Office 2003?

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Shame you restricted it to MVP only, as if nobody else could have an answer.

: Interested in alternate MSFT board and/or searchable database other than
MSFT
: Knowledgebase where I might try question unable to get adequate answer to
: here.... invloving clicking on item within My Documents on an XP SP3
system
: with Active Desktop where all of a sudden the documents do not open
: corresponding program such as Word or Acrobat...... yet if going into
those
: programs first and browsing for file, they open perfectly.
:
: Thank you,
: Sarah

 

[Jose]

Thanks for this information.  Will attempt shortly.  You mention something in
your answer though that reminded me of an important related fact.

This particular machine had no Office 2003(yes, 2003) service packs on it..  
Attempted run of Office 2003 SP3 which have done numerous times before.  
Service pack hung an inordinate amount of time and I eventually cancelled,
watching it supposedly roll back.  

Anything that might be related here ?..... considering you mention known
issues with Office 2007 service pack installs.

Thank you again.  Look forward toyour follow up.

Alas... I sometimes have adequate answers, even to inadequate
questions.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

If this behavior only started after you installed SP3...

"SP3" in my last reply meant Windows XP SP3, not an Office SP3, Sarah. If
you don't have Office 2003 installed, you will not be able to install Office
2003 SP3.

 

[Sarah C]

Exactly ... which is what led to re-posting with current subject.

Shame you restricted it to MVP only, as if nobody else could have an
answer.

Well, you didn't give an answer

 

[Sarah C]

Office 2003 Professional is on machine. Office 2003 SP3 update, began very
slow .... hung .... and eventually seemed to be looking for files but from a
share as opposed to a cd drive even though original CD and license available.

If I should move this to Office Sig please advise .... otherwise only
remaining question is whether or not I can instruct the office sp3 update to
look to cd drive for confirmation AND/OR copy certain files from CD to hard
drive for same.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

I chose not to.

Tom
:
: : > Shame you restricted it to MVP only, as if nobody else could have an
: > answer.
: >
: Well, you didn't give an answer
:
:
:

 

[measekite Da Monkey, ESQ]

I chose not to.

Oh yea, you're not an MVP.......

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Well, now we're drifting off-topic, Sarah. Even if Office 2003 SP3 wasn't
installed yet, a DOC file should still open (in) Word and a PDF file should
still open (in) your default PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Reader). Is this not
the case?

=======================================

IN RE installing Office 2003 SP3...

1. Insert your Office 2003 CD into the appropriate drive bay prior to your
next install attempt; and/or see...

2. Description of the update for Office 2003 (December 9, 2008):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949074